Chennai: Ford Motor Co stated it should halt manufacturing at its automobile plant in India`s southern state of Tamil Nadu after staff staged a lunchtime sit-in protest on Thursday, demanding go away and well being advantages, because the nation battles the coronavirus.
The automaker will cease work at its Chennai plant on Friday and Saturday because it continues to have interaction with the union on different well being and security calls for, Ford stated in a press release.
“The safety of our workforce remains our topmost priority,” a Ford India spokesman stated, including that the plant had been shut from May 14-May 22 on the behest of staff.
The sit-in protest is the most recent expression of discontent and reluctance amongst manufacturing unit staff within the southern state, dwelling to India`s flourishing vehicle trade, to work amid a surge in virus infections.
On Wednesday, the Chennai Ford Employees Union expressed concern in a letter to administration after 230 staff caught the virus.
“The company should pay all medical expenses of workers affected by the coronavirus,” the union stated in Wednesday`s letter, reviewed by Reuters, and known as for the plant to be shut till the state authorities removes lockdown restrictions.
It additionally sought compensation of 10 million rupees ($137,890) every for the households of two staff who died of the virus.
The union was nonetheless in dialogue with the corporate about its calls for, one of many sources stated.
South Korea`s Hyundai Motor Co and France`s Renault, in addition to its alliance accomplice Nissan Motor Co, halted manufacturing earlier this week in Tamil Nadu.
With greater than 30,000 circumstances a day, Tamil Nadu is without doubt one of the states worst hit in India`s second devastating wave of infections. Factories turning out cars are amongst these it has allowed to remain open throughout lockdown.
Ford has two automobile manufacturing crops in India to satisfy home and export wants.
The Tamil Nadu facility, with annual capability of 200,000 items, makes the EcoSport and Endeavour sport-utility automobiles.
The different, within the western state of Gujarat, can produce 240,000 vehicles a 12 months.
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